Mayor announces Houston-Whittier/Hayes and Greenfield Park as Phase 2 Solar Neighborhoods
Two neighborhoods will add 61 acres of solar arrays, in total the arrays will generate enough solar energy to power 127 City municipal buildings
Added to 104 acres in original three Solar neighborhoods, city will have total of 165 acres
Contracts submitted to City Council for approval
Leading national solar developers Lightstar Renewables and DTE Electric Company sharing development equally
The addition of the two neighborhoods would create another 61 acres of solar arrays. When added to the 104 acres in Phase One, this would bring to 165 the total number of acres in the mayor’s Solar Neighborhoods initiative. The purpose of the initiative is to take vacant, blighted land and put it to use generating enough clean energy to power 127 City municipal buildings as part of the City’s efforts to address climate change. These include all police and fire stations, transit centers, City administrative buildings, recreation centers, health clinics, City Airport and more.
Houston Whittier/Hayes and Greenfield Park were selected from five remaining finalists after Gratiot-Findlay, Van Dyke-Lynch and State Fair were selected as the first three Solar Neighborhoods in Phase One. In December, the Mayor announced that all Phase 1 neighborhoods had signed their agreements with developers and approved final landscape designs that included decorative fencing, ornamental trees and perennials, along with flower meadows and/or urban agriculture within their solar arrays.
“Detroit is taking real action to fight climate change, while removing blight and investing in long-neglected areas,” Mayor Duggan said. “Now, two more neighborhoods in our city know that they have not been forgotten.”
Phase 2 Solar Neighborhood Details:
Greenfield Park:
42.6 acres of solar
9 relocation homeowners within the Solar Array
36 Community Benefit homeowners who will receive $25,000 each in energy efficiency upgrades
Houston-Whittier/ Hayes:
18.7 acres of solar
2 relocation homeowners within the Solar Array
70 Community Benefit homeowners who will receive $15,000 each in energy efficiency upgrades
While this completes the Solar Neighborhoods selection process, the three finalist neighborhoods not selected at this time for solar arrays (O’Shea, Mt. Olivet, and Trinity/ Pickford) would be leading candidates if future solar arrays are sought and if the neighborhoods are still interested.
Home energy efficiency upgrades for 106 adjoining owner-occupied homes
There are 106 documented owner-occupied homes in the areas adjoining the new solar fields. The homeowners selected the boundaries of the adjoining zones. Those 106 homeowners will receive home energy efficiency upgrades ranging from $15,000 to $25,000 (depending on the number of solar acres). The eligible home improvements are energy efficiency upgrades to the homes, options such as:
Windows
Repairing roofs
Residential solar panels
Energy-efficient appliances
Home insulation and air sealing
Energy-efficient furnaces and hot water heaters
Installing smart thermostats
Energy-efficient lighting
Battery backup
These homeowners who stayed will get the double benefit of having the most blighted areas replaced by solar fields and will have their neighborhood homes upgraded with new investment.
"It's great to see the city moving towards renewable energy and moving on issues related to greenhouse gases, and at the same time making sure homeowners living in these neighborhoods receive some direct benefits," said Houston-Whittier resident Sandra Turner-Handy. "Not only will we replace blighted land with new solar areas we will help design, we also will receive significant energy efficiency upgrades to our homes."
The Land acquisition process
All Phase 2 owners of owner-occupied homes have already entered into written agreements for voluntary buy-outs by the City. In the 61 acres in Phase 2, the extensive neighborhood and legal outreach have identified only 11 owner-occupied homes. All 11 homeowners have indicated their desire to move from the neighborhood and all have signed option contracts for an agreed-upon price.
Renters in the Phase 2 area will receive the cost of relocating and 18 months free rent in their new home, pursuant to Michigan law.
Condemnation will be used to acquire the property of landlords and vacant landowners, who will be paid fair market value for their property pursuant to Michigan law.
"I am grateful for this opportunity for my neighborhood, even though I will be moving to a new neighborhood to help make it happen," said Greenfield Park resident Ervin Mays, who currently lives inside the planned solar array. "I have been treated very well in this process and look forward to new beginnings made possible for my neighborhood and myself.
Two solar field developers selected – each will build 3 solar fields with approximately 100 acres
Following an extensive bid process during Phase 1, the City identified two highly qualified developers to build Detroit’s solar fields. The City is now expanding on those existing contracts to add 1 neighborhood to each developer.
Lightstar, one of the nation’s leading solar developers, has been selected for the highly anticipated Phase 2 projects to advance clean energy solutions in Detroit. Phase 1 of this endeavor will bring 63 acres of solar fields to the Gratiot/Findlay and State Fair neighborhoods, while Phase 2 will see the addition of 19 acres in the Houston-Witter/Hayes community. Together, these projects represent a significant step forward in sustainable energy innovation and environmental stewardship.
Based in Boston, Lightstar is an independent power producer (IPP) that stands at the forefront of the clean energy transition. Since its founding in 2019, Lightstar has delivered on its mission to develop, construct, and own community solar energy systems that create lasting benefits for people, the land, and our planet. With over 1 gigawatt (GW) of projects completed or in development across the United States, Lightstar is redefining what solar energy can accomplish.
DTE Electric Company, which is operating more than 30 solar fields across Michigan – the largest being 250 acres in Lapeer – has been selected to build the 40-acre solar field in the Van Dyke/Lynch neighborhood in Phase 1 and 43 acres of solar fields in the Greenfield Park neighborhood in Phase 2.
Several non-profits have worked as advocates with the neighborhood groups throughout this process and will continue to work for those neighborhood groups through the entirety of the process.
The City of Detroit will maintain ownership of all the land and will lease it to the developers.
“I am pleased that this project is coming online and will soon be producing cleaner, greener energy for Detroit,” said Detroit City Councilmember Scott Benson, who represents Greenfield Park. “This project will help combat climate change, improve Detroit’s air quality, support our local economy, provide home improvements within the impact areas, and strengthen Detroit’s power grid. This is positive change has been driven at the neighborhood level with residents leading and participating in every step.”
“The Detroit Climate Strategy is an ambitious plan to address the imminent realities of a changing climate,” said Councilmember Latisha Johnon, who represents Houston-Whittier. “An integral part of the strategy calls for our city to transition to clean, renewable energy by 2034. Implementing solar farms will go a long way toward meeting this goal while providing significant community benefits and minimal displacement of our neighbors. The Department of Neighborhoods and the Office of Sustainability did a good job engaging the community in the selection process, which I confirmed when meeting with my District 4 constituents.”
Councilmember-at-large Mary Waters stated: “I am elated to see this project expand across the city, helping Detroit to lead in the Green Energy revolution. Creating a more resilient and environmentally friendly power grid helps Detroiters get more reliable power while protecting our environment. These solar developments are just one of the ways we are working in city government to help improve the lives of residents while making our city ready for the future?”
Funding for the Project – Made Possible by Tax Credits from the Inflation Reduction Act
During Phase 1, Mayor Duggan explained the reason city is undertaking the solar power project now is that it only became financially viable because of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. “President Biden reduced the costs of large-scale solar projects like Detroit’s by 30% through the automatic tax credits in the Inflation Reduction Act,” the Mayor said. “Communities across America need to stop talking about fighting climate change and start to act. Under the new law, large-scale solar projects make good financial sense.” The IRA continues to be one of the main reasons the City can undertake this solar project.
Capital Costs will be paid by the City of Detroit’s Utility Conversion Fund. This is a long-standing fund dating back to the days when the city operated its own power system. That fund is legally required to be used for energy conversion. A total of $21 million for the upfront costs between Phase 1 and 2 for acquiring and clearing the land will be paid from the existing fund. No new appropriation will be needed.
Net operating costs are projected to increase $1.7 million per year. The City of Detroit currently spends nearly $3.7 million per year within the boundaries of the five blighted solar field zones across several departments:
1) Constant illegal dumping and trash pickup
2) Mowing and maintenance of overgrown lots and abandoned houses
3) Police and fire runs
4) Street maintenance, building inspections and enforcement, storm water backups and repairs
On an annual basis, the City projects the costs of the Phase 1 and 2 solar fields as follow:
Annual operating cost $8.3 million
Renewable energy savings offset ($2.9 million)
City department cost reductions ($3.7 million)
Savings from solar fields $6.6 million
Total Net Costs $1.7 million
“We have seen property values and income tax revenues grow dramatically in other neighborhoods where the city has made investments,” Mayor Duggan said. “I’m confident our $1.7 million a year investment in these long-forgotten neighborhoods will produce a real recovery in these communities.”
Solar Fields required to be returned to the City as greenfield sites when no longer generating power
Under the agreements, the Solar Fields will operate for 35 years generating solar power. Whenever their useful life as solar fields comes to an end, the contracts require the developers to remove all of the solar equipment and return the property to the city as a green field.
"Governments have a fundamental responsibility to take action to improve quality of life, address climate change and ensure clean air for future generations," said the city's Director of the Office of Sustainability, Tepfirah Rushdan. "It's exciting to see Detroit leading the way in clean energy."
Next Steps
To begin the next step of the process, the Mayor’s office has transmitted several documents to City Council for approval. Those include:
Resolution for the acquisition of private property in each of the three neighborhoods to assemble the land needed for the proposed solar arrays
Contracts with two developers selected following a procurement process
A group of community-based neighborhood solar partners has been assisting residents through this process, including:
1. Green Door Initiative
1. EcoWorks
2. D2 Solar
3. MI Interfaith Power and Light
4. Peace Tree
5. Sustainable Community Farms
6. Walker-Miller Energy
7. Rescue MI Nature
8. Worldwide Management Services Corporation/Communities Power
9. Ryter Cooperatives
10. First Family Solar
11. Anti-Gravity, LLC
12. SDEV
13. Energy Alliance
Gratiot Findlay Meeting #3- Summary
5:30pm at Matrix Human Services (13560 McNichols Road)
The Detroit Solar Initiative conducted its third community meeting for the Gratiot Findlay area on October 27, 2024 at the Matrix Human Services center at McNichols Road and Gratiot Avenue. More than 25 participants joined the City of Detroit and the solar development team, Lightstar Renewables, to review the final designs for the solar array, including final fence options, landscape areas, perimeter trees and more. Residents also received answers related to the construction timeline and when to expect any road closures.
Residents also reviewed the energy efficiency home improvement program component, learning more about their eligibility to receive certain upgrades. Some participants were concerned about the degree of choice related to the home upgrades, and the City of Detroit and Lightstar described that they would work with vendors to secure fair pricing to stretch the budgets so that residents could do as many improvements as they could. Many of the home assessments were underway already and residents were encouraged to sign up for a home assessment to schedule an in-home evaluation to begin the upgrade work as soon as possible.
State Fair Meeting #3- Summary
5:30pm at America’s Community Council (62 West Seven Mile Road)
The Detroit Solar Initiative conducted its third community meeting for the State Fair area on November 4, 2024 at the America’s Community Council on West 7 Mile Road and John R Street. More than 25 participants joined the City of Detroit and the solar development team, Lightstar Renewables, to review the final designs for the solar array, including final fence options, landscape areas, perimeter trees and more. Residents also received answers related to the construction timeline and when to expect any road closures. Many residents offered ideas of incorporating murals or public art on the roads and sidewalks that would be closed off for the solar array. Lightstart expressed great interest and willingness to incorporate local artists into the project aesthetics. Some residents expressed concerns related to snow removal but the City affirms that they would maintain those areas per usual.
Residents also reviewed the energy efficiency home improvement program component, learning more about their eligibility to receive certain upgrades. Some participants were concerned about the degree of choice related to the home upgrades, and the City of Detroit and Lightstar described that they would work with vendors to secure fair pricing to stretch the budgets so that residents could do as many improvements as they could. Many of the home assessments were underway already and residents were encouraged to sign up for a home assessment to schedule an in-home evaluation to begin the upgrade work as soon as possible.
Gratiot Findlay Meeting #2 - Summary
5:30pm at Matrix Human Services (13560 McNichols Road)
The Detroit Solar Initiative conducted its second community meeting for the Gratiot Findlay area on October 7, 2024 at the Matrix Human Services center at McNichols Road and Gratiot Avenue. More than 25 participants joined the City of Detroit and the solar development team, Lightstar Renewables, to review and confirm their preferences around fencing, plantings, trees and activations underneath the proposed solar array.
The participants were broken up into groups of 5 and reviewed large prints of how their preferences might look altogether. First, residents were asked around the fencing and asked to choose between an exposed finial design or a flat top design for the iron-wrought style exterior fencing. They were also asked which post end they preferred: ball top or flat top. Overall, many residents like the flat top options. Next residents were asked which trees they would like to see along the fence line of the solar array. Most residents preferred Eastern Redbud and Crepe Myrtle because the flowers will add beauty to the area. Lastly, residents were asked how they might want to plant the ground cover. Picking between clover and agrivoltaics, residents located where those groundcovers made the most sense in their neighborhood, considering nearby homes, businesses and neighborhood gathering spaces. Gratiot 7 Mile Community members had strong interest in farming as a groundcover within the solar array, and were also interested in the idea of community access to farming, either through participation in agrivoltaic maintenance, or by an attached community garden component. Residents expressed that visible farming/gardening would add to beautification. Residents showed the most enthusiasm and interest when asked to identify locations of special plantings for perennial gardens where they may be the most appreciated. At the end of the workshop, residents had selected a preferred fence style,and planting palette for the solar array design.
After the workshop, residents stayed to hear from Elevate to learn more about the energy efficiency upgrades that many were eligible to receive as part of the solar development initiative. The upgrades include roof repair, efficient appliances and other home improvements of up to $25,000. Residents were encouraged to sign up for a home assessment to schedule an in-home evaluation as early as January 2025.
State Fair Meeting #2 - Summary
5:30pm at America’s Community Council (62 West Seven Mile Road)
The Detroit Solar Initiative conducted its second community meeting for the State Fair area on October 14, 2024 at the America’s Community Council at 62 West Seven Mile Road. More than 20 participants joined the City of Detroit and the solar development team, Lightstar Renewables, to review and confirm their preferences around fencing, plantings, trees and activations underneath the proposed solar array.
The participants were broken up into groups of 5 or 6 and reviewed large prints of how their preferences might look altogether. First, residents were asked around the fencing and asked to choose between an exposed finial design or a flat top design for the iron-wrought style exterior fencing. They were also asked which post end they preferred: ball top or flat top. Overall, many residents like the exposed finials with the ball top. Many residents were concerned about security and vandalism and felt that these features created enough obstructions to limit any potential tampering with the solar array.
Next residents were asked which trees they would like to see along the fence line of the solar array. Most residents preferred Eastern Redbud and Crepe Myrtle because the flowers will add beauty to the area. Lastly, residents were asked how they might want to plant the ground cover. Picking between clover, manicured meadow, and agrivoltaics, residents located where those groundcovers made the most sense in their neighborhood, considering nearby homes, businesses and neighborhood gathering spaces. The State Fair community preferred clover and meadow over agrivoltaic but those interested in agrivoltaics wanted more information on what would be grown and if there would be community access before deciding whether they would support it. These residents expressed concern about rodents, and did not want the agrivolatics to contribute to this problem. Residents were also asked to locate special plantings for perennial gardens where they may be the most appreciated. At the end of the workshop, residents had selected a preferred fence style,and planting palette for the solar array design.
After the workshop, residents stayed to hear from Elevate to learn more about the energy efficiency upgrades that many were eligible to receive as part of the solar development initiative. The upgrades include roof repair, efficient appliances and other home improvements of up to $25,000. Residents were encouraged to sign up for a home assessment to schedule an in-home evaluation as early as January 2025.
Gratiot Findlay Meeting #1 - Summary
5:30pm at Matrix Human Services (13560 McNichols Road)
The Detroit Solar Initiative kicked off with its first community meeting for the Gratiot Findlay area on September 16, 2024 at the Matrix Human Services center at McNichols Road and Gratiot Avenue. Over 15 participants joined the City of Detroit and the solar development team, Lightstar Renewables, to discuss design ideas related to preferred fencing, plantings, trees and activations underneath and surrounding the proposed solar array.
The presentation provided an overview of the project timeline, boundary and the different departments and agencies leading the effort. Leaders in the Department of Neighborhoods also canvassed feedback door-to-door for residents who were not able to make the evening meeting. Collectively, residents were favorable of strong fencing that offered views into the solar arrays, trees and perennials, and crop production below the arrays. The Gratiot Findlay community was most interested in flowering plantings, both in the buffer zone and under the panels. In considering agrivoltaics (or agriculture growing beneath the solar array), most residents showed interest in growing herbs and flowers. Many residents expressed a direct interest in community access to the crops being grown, with freedom to walk by and pick things they needed or wanted. While this project would support renewable energy, many residents were excited by the opportunity to bring beauty to the neighborhood.
State Fair Meeting #1 - Summary
5:30pm at America’s Community Council (62 West Seven Mile Road)
The Detroit Solar Initiative kicked off with its first community meeting for the State Fair area on September 23, 2024 at the America’s Community Council at 62 West Seven Mile Road. Over 20 participants joined the City of Detroit and the solar development team, Lightstar Renewables, to discuss design ideas related to preferred fencing, plantings, trees and activations underneath and surrounding the proposed solar array.
The presentation provided an overview of the project timeline, boundary and the different departments and agencies leading the effort. Leaders in the Department of Neighborhoods also canvassed feedback door-to-door for residents who were not able to make the evening meeting. Collectively, residents were favorable of strong and attractive fencing and edging. Many residents were concerned with replicating the edge condition of the Amazon Distribution Center nearby and would like to have a combination of fencing and landscaping that is beautiful and secure. It is also important to maintain views through and across the solar array. Residents also wanted to ensure that construction traffic was limited to a few streets to minimize noise, dust and traffic within the neighborhood. In considering agrivoltaics (or agriculture growing beneath the solar array), most residents showed interest in partnering with local nonprofit organizations that could support with maintenance and stewardship.
15th Aug, 2024
Detroit Solar Story Detroit Neighborhood Solar Initiative, Trisha Stein
Detroit Solar Story Detroit Neighborhood Solar Initiative, Trisha Stein.
24th Jun, 2024
Mayor Announces First 3 Solar Neighborhoods; tells residents, “you have not been forgotten"
Residents in three Detroit neighborhoods who have lived for decades adjacent to some of Detroit’s worst blight got a clear message today from Mayor Mike Duggan: You have not been forgotten.
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